News: LKCMedicine graduates second cohort of Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine 

It was an evening of achievement as 25 doctors celebrated the completion of their Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine (GDSM) programme.

On 26 February, the School celebrated the Class of 2020 for completing their GDSM programme in what was arguably the toughest year.

The occasion was graced by the School’s Dean Professor James Best, the Chief Executive Officer of Changi General Hospital (CGH) Professor Ng Wai Hoe, Chief of CGH’s Sport and Exercise Medicine and Chairman of the Graduate Diploma Advisory Board Associate Professor Benedict Tan, GDSM Programme Director Associate Professor Fabian Lim, GDSM's Clinical Course Director and Senior Consultant at CGH’s Sports Medicine Associate Professor Roger Tian, and GDSM Advisory Committee member Dr Patrick Goh.

LKCMedicine celebrated the Class of 2020 for completing their GDSM programme on 26 February 

Prof Best began the celebration with a speech about the successful collaboration between LKCMedicine and CGH that saw the launch of the GDSM programme in 2018.

The programme aims to broaden treatment of musculoskeletal and sports-related injuries in a population which is not only ageing but also staying active for longer. It was timely given that with Singapore’s ageing population, musculoskeletal injuries, and demand for expertise in sports medicine will likely increase as well.

“We received more than 200 applications since its launch, and so congratulations for getting in and for getting through the programme,” said Prof Best. “2020 was an extraordinarily challenging year, but there was no lowering of standards in our MBBS and GDSM programmes. You have earned yourselves a celebration. Take some time to celebrate. I raise a theoretical toast to your personal success and new skills that will enhance your career in sports medicine.”

Dr Goh also delivered the GDSM Annual Lecture which was then followed by speeches from A/Prof Lim and A/Prof Tan.

All three spoke about how COVID-19 had pushed the boundaries of commitment from faculty, staff, and students, and how proud they are of their achievements. The graduating cohort was reminded by Dr Goh that they are, first and foremost, doctors and must apply sports medicine methods to anyone they treat.

The graduating students received their certificates from Prof Best and Prof Ng. The Top of Class award was presented to Dr Fong Lian Im, who was unable to attend the ceremony in person, but a recorded video message she made was played to the audience.

Dr Fong said, “2020 had been a challenging and interesting year for everyone. COVID-19 had demonstrated that the online nature of this programme has strongly benefitted everyone and allowed the course to be conducted mostly uninterrupted.”

As the night came to an end, one of the graduates, Dr Tan Jian Jing, presented Prof Best with a rugby ball as a souvenir to mark his time as the Dean of LKCMedicine – a touching parting gift to the man who had watched over them as they persevered through unprecedented obstacles to complete the programme.